BOARD CHAIR

Jared is the Grants Management Specialist for the Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District. He was born and raised in Eugene and is now raising three children here, who enjoy spending time at their grandparents’ home in Rainbow. Jared holds a master’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon. During the Holiday Farm Fire, Jared was serving as the chair of the Lane COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) and managing United Way of Lane County’s Wildfire Response Fund, which has invested over $900,000 in community-based organizations to assist survivors.

VICE-CHAIR

Lisa, an Oregon resident since 1993, has dedicated her career to healthcare and serving underserved populations. With a background in Occupational Therapy and later becoming a physician assistant, she has worked in rehabilitation centers, provided home health care, and practiced in family medicine departments, always with a focus on marginalized patients.

Lisa and her husband settled in Eugene, where she spent 25 years as a primary care provider at Oregon Medical Group. Alongside her professional endeavors, Lisa has embraced the outdoor wonders of Oregon, indulging in activities such as mushroom hunting, hiking, snowshoeing, rafting, boating, crabbing, and fishing. She is also a talented potter and cherishes the harmonious moments of music with her family.

With a deep appreciation for friends, family, and community, Lisa embodies compassion, creativity, and a love for the beauty of Oregon.

SECRETARY & CO-CHAIR OF THE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

Nancy, a fourth-generation Oregonian, made the life-changing decision to move to the picturesque McKenzie River Valley in 1999. For 18 years, she commuted weekly via Amtrak, balancing her role as an information systems professor at Washington State University with her loving husband and their McKenzie home. Following her husband's passing and retirement in 2017, Nancy has embraced full-time residency in the valley. Actively involved in the leadership of McKenzie Valley Presbyterian Church in Walterville and various organizations, Nancy channels her passion for singing, gardening and cooking into enriching her community and nurturing her relationships with friends and family. Her journey exemplifies unwavering commitment, personal growth, and finding joy in life's simple pleasures, inspiring those around her in the McKenzie River Valley.

TREASURER

The highlight of Marilyn’s earliest memory of the McKenzie River is “fishing” with her grandfather in the early 1950s. Her fishing in those days amounted to running up and down the bank just often enough to ensure Grandpa did not catch any fish. Marilyn spent her 40-year career in software development, systems engineering, computer manufacturing, insurance, and capital markets. During her career years, Marilyn lived in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York City and traveled extensively. Marilyn has a BA from Clark University in Worcester, Mass.

While living in New York City, Marilyn planned and built a family retreat on the McKenzie which has been her home since she retired in 2009. Since her first four-month trip to Europe in 1959, Marilyn has relished travel. She has scheduled a trip to New Zealand in December 2022 and hopes to reschedule the canceled 2020 trip to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 2023. With fewer trees and more sunlight, she is learning to garden. But alas, the fishing has not progressed much since the days with Grandpa.

CO-CHAIR OF THE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

Lucy Zammarelli is a Supervisor at Lane County Health and Human Services. She has a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.A. from Temple University. She has extensive experience in the behavioral health field. She has served on SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Network Steering Committee and currently serves on the Lane County Disability Services Advisory Committee. She is a Board member for the Oregon Rural Health Association and is Secretary of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. Lucy is active in community training and workforce development, rural health disparities, cultural competence, and integrated treatment for behavioral health and primary care.

BOARD MEMBER

Randy has been a resident of the McKenzie River Valley since 1989. With a career spanning executive management and creative direction in the interactive entertainment industry, he has left his mark as a visionary and business leader at top entertainment companies like Electronic Arts, Acclaim, Zynga, and Disney. Randy's personal passion lies in the history of the McKenzie River Drift Boat, the unique whitewater fishing boat that evolved here on the McKenzie River. Currently, he is creating a video documentary that explores the rich story and significant influence of this important local history.

BOARD MEMBER

Nelda is a Texan by birth, but an Oregonian by choice. Hurricane Ike hit her small island community of Galveston, Texas in 2008. The storm surge devastated her home and business and forever changed the landscape of the city. It took many years to recover and she relied on many generous and knowledgeable people for help and guidance. She’s now paying it forward and strives to help others navigate the difficult process of rebuilding and recovering. Nelda believes the best is yet to come for the McKenzie Valley.

In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends and exploring the unmatched beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

BOARD MEMBER

Anna Bjornsdotter’s journey to this role has been marked by resilience and a deep connection to the community she now serves.

Anna and her husband, Jose, along with their young son, made the decision to settle in the beautiful McKenzie Valley. Two years later, their lives were profoundly impacted by the devastating Holiday Farm Fire, resulting in the loss of their home and livelihoods.

As passionate creatives, they both lost their studios and their lifetime collection of paintings, sculptures, art and materials, a loss they suffered more than any of their other belongings.

Anna says her family has experienced a remarkable recovery, thanks to the unwavering support of the community, despite the ongoing daily challenges they face. She is eager to share her firsthand experience of navigating the fire's aftermath while raising her young son, who now attends McKenzie Schools. His well-being is their top priority. She believes her family’s perspective will add to the conversation of how to help the community recover from the loss.

Originating from Sweden, Anna brings a wealth of artistic expertise to the board, holding a BA in costume design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Throughout her career, she has showcased her creative talents in notable productions, including those at the Seattle and Los Angeles Operas. Currently, Anna's artistic contributions can be experienced at the Shedd Institute in Eugene.

Anna and Jose are still actively rebuilding and creating a home for their family.

BOARD MEMBER

Mandy Jones is an accomplished retired banking executive and former CEO of Oregon Community Credit Union (OCCU), where she spearheaded significant growth, effectively doubling the organization's size during her tenure. With a wealth of experience in building memberships, managing assets, and investing in the community, Mandy has consistently demonstrated her dedication to making a positive impact.

Beyond her professional achievements, Mandy has actively engaged in volunteer work with various organizations. She has generously contributed her time to initiatives such as the Children's Miracle Network, United Way of Lane County and served as the esteemed board chairperson of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce.

As a longstanding resident of the McKenzie River Valley for over two decades, Mandy's deep connection to the region fuels her passion for community involvement. Currently, she serves as a valuable volunteer board member for the McKenzie River Discovery Center, contributing her expertise and insights to promote the center's mission.

In response to the devastating Holiday Farm Fire in 2021, Mandy's leadership skills were recognized, and she was appointed by the Governor as the Co-Convenor for the Oregon Solutions Project for Fire Recovery, Locals Helping Locals. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in coordinating efforts to facilitate the recovery and rebuilding process, providing critical support to affected communities.

Recognizing Mandy's exceptional capabilities and dedication, she was recently welcomed as a board member of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. This appointment further showcases her commitment to aiding the region's long-term rehabilitation and underscores her ongoing commitment to helping local communities thrive.

BOARD MEMBER

Dale has lived and worked in the McKenzie Valley since 2003 when he moved to the area to provide his son with benefits the Valley provides. He devotes as much time as possible to restoring the Valley and getting people back home.

Reach out to us to learn more about joining our board of directors.